Inclined drum poultry picker



Oct. 1l, 1949. E. B. MEAD 2,484,235

INCLINED DRUM POULTRY PICKER Filed Dec. 14, 1945 v 2 Sheets-Sheet l coooooof oooooooboooooo llllnlmll jigs.

Oct. 11, 1949.

Filed Dec. 14, 1945 Z3 Ji E. B. MEAD INCLINED DRUM POULTRY PICKER 2 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Z? Ji fig.

Parenteel Oct. 1l, 1949 UNITED INCLINED DRUM POULTRY PICKER Ezra B. Mead, Ottumwa, Iowa, assignor to Barker Poultry Equipment Co., Ottumwa, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application December 14, 1945, Serial No. 634,962

9 Claims. 1

My present invention relates to poultry pickers of the general type employing rotating drums provided with resilient lingers.

It is my purpose to provide a poultry picker employing a pair of such drums arranged substantially parallel to each other and inclined at an angle between vertical and horizontal so that when placed in the path of birds carried by a conveyor, the birds will be carried lbetween the drums and be by them mechanically picked cleaner and faster than hereto-fore lby automatic machines.

Another and important purpose is to provide means for mounting the drums so that they can be easily and conveniently adjusted toward and from each other .for achieving the greatest operating efficiency `on birds of all sizes.

Another purpose is to provide for mounting the drums for such an adjustment by means which will not interfere `with travel of the birds for picking.

Still another purpose is to provide drums and mountings which permit convenient replacement oi broken or worn fingers.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a plan view of an inclined drum picker embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of my improved picker, parts being omitted lfor a clear showing of the parts illustrated.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the frame structure for one drum.

Figure 5 is a similar view of the frame structure for the other drum.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional View of one of the frame supporting legs taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view taken on the line l-l of Figure 1, illustrating the common support for the frames for the respective drums at the rear end of the picker.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the same structure partly in section on the line 8 8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional View through a portion of one of the drums for illustrating the manner in which the resilient fingers may be installed.

It has been the practice heretofore to build automatic chicken pickers -including a pair of parallel drums arranged side by side as may be illustrated in the Barker Patent No. 2,389,404. I nd that by the arrangement herein described, certain advantages as above mentioned are attained.

In my present structure I provide two drums. Each drum has a frame portion. Such portions are shown in Figures 4 and 5. Each frame portion has an outer supporting leg Ill at itsJ front end and an outer supporting leg II at its rear end. I refer to the front end as the one from which the birds approach in the structures here shown. It would of course be possible to bring the birds first to the other end of the drum, but at present I provide the arrangement here illustrated. The frame portions have a common supporting leg I3 at the rear end. The common leg I3 is shown in connection with both portions in Figures 4 and 5.

The legs I0, II and I3 are adjustable in the manner hereinafter more fully described, for the purpose of tilting the drums toward and from each other for adjusting their relative positions for picking birds of diierent sizes.

The detailed structure of the legs i9 and II is illustrated in Figure 6. Each leg has a lower tubular member I4 as shown in Figure 6 resting loosely in a short channel I5, which is placed on the floor transversely oi the machine so that its anges I6 prevent any forward or rearward movement of the machine when the channel I5 is secured to the floor. 'I'he leg member I4 rests on the bottom of the channel I5 so that the upper part of the leg can be tilted slightly toward or from its .corresponding leg. Each of the legs Ill and II has an upper member I'l telescoped over the upper part of the leg member I4. At the upper end of the tubular leg member I1 is a ller ring I8, Welded or otherwise fixed to the underside ol a cap I9 screwed on to the top of the leg member II.

At the upper end of the leg member It is the top 20 through which is threaded an adjusting rod 2l. The adjusting rod extends upwardly through the ller ring I3 and the .cap I9 so as to permit notation of the rod 2l with relation to the filler ring I8 and ycap I9. Fixed on the rod 2| adjacent the underside of the ring IB is a lock washer 22. The projecting upper end of the rod 2l is made angular at 23 to receive a wrench. It will be obvious that by rotating the rod 2 I, it will have urp and down screw-threaded adjustment with relation to the leg portion It for thereby relatively raising and lowering the leg portion I1.

Welded or otherwise fixed to the upper part of each leg portion Il of each leg Il is a transverse frame member 24 (see Figures l and 6). These members 24 extend toward each other and are xed at their inner ends to fore and aft exten-ding channel-like members 25 forming part of the structure at the top of the rear leg I3 common to the two frame portions. The leg I3 has a base 25a, to rest on the floor. Fixed to and extending upwardly from the base 25a, is a tubular leg member 26, having a closed upper end 2i through which is threaded the adjusting rod 23. Teleslcoped over the leg member 26 is an outer tubular leg member 29. Screwed into the upper end oi each leg member 29 is a filler ring 32. Fixed on the adjusting rod 28 immediately ybelow the ring 3!) is a collar 3i. The dollar SI supports a sleeve 32 rotatably journaled in the ring 3d and abutting a short tube 33 extending fore and'aft of the picker.

The channel-shaped members 25 form slightly less than half cylinders and t against the opposite sides of the tube 33 and are held thereon by means of end ycaps 3d through which extend tie bolts 3b. The rod 2t extends upwardly through the tube 33 and has an angular head 3T to receive a wrench. Channel members 25 have notches to accommodatethe nod 23 so as to permit the channel members to rock around the tube 33 slightly when the outer ends of the frame members 2d are raised or lowered or when the leg member 29 is raised and lowered by adjusting the rod 28.

It will thus be seen that the outer rear legs il are vertically adjustable and the rear leg I3 is vertically adjustable. The iront legs It' are constructed substantially like the legs I I except that the parts thereof indicated at lla and the adjusting rods thereof indicated at 2 la in Figure 2,

are longer than the parts Il and 2l of the legs I I. i

Fixed to each transverse frame member 22 near each rear outer leg II is a horizontal side frame member 39, preferably apiece of pipe which at its iront end is curved inwardly as at 39a, Figure 1, and at its extreme iront end is fixed as by welding to the lower part of the leg member Ila (See Figures l and 2).

Fixed to the longitudinal frame members 39 just rearwardly of their inwardly curved iront ends are transverse irarne members it extending toward each other and connected together by mechanism indicated generally at I2 in Figure l', which is like that shown in Figures 7 and 8 except that there is no supporting leg. the members @il have a pivotal connection, which is in line with the axis of the tube 33 of the leg I3.

Fixed to each member 24 n ear its leg II is a tubular frame member ill. These members il are illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4. Each has a portion. .iid extending upwardly and a portion llh extending from the portion Ma upwardly and forwardly as perhaps best illustrated in Figure 2. At the upper end of the portion lili) the frame member il! is curved inwardly toward the opposite side of the machine forming a portion lic.

At the iront of the machine a tubular member l2 is fixed to each frame member 39 and has a portion 22a inclined upwardly and forwardly as illustrated in Figure 2. At the upper end of the portion 22a is a portion 2b curved inwardly toward the center of the machine as perhaps best illustrated in Figure 3. Thus there are two frame members il at the rear of the machine, one on each side, and there are two members l2 at the iront of the machine, one at each side. The upper ends of the Iportions lll-Ic and @2b of the frame members 4I and 42 at each side of the machine, are connected by rigid longitudinal frame members 43. At the rear end .of the machine are two frame members M. Each is xed at its lower end to a frame member 24 and is inclined upwardly and forwardly and secured at its upper end to a part llc of a frame member 4I, spaced laterally land outwardly from the frame member i3, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4.

At the front end of the machine are two frame members 45. Each member i5 is xed at its lower end to a transverse frame member in and is inclined upwardly and forwardly and fixed at its upper end at 42h to a frame member 42 at a point spaced laterally and outwardly from the respective frame member 43 (see Figures 1 and 3).

In Figure 3 the upper part of one of the leg members Ila is broken away to permit the showing of the frame member i5 for its full length.

On the members lll are mounted brackets i6 and on the members 65 are mounted brackets el, Figures l and 3. The drums are supported on these brackets for rotation.

Drums Each picker drum has a tubular drum mem- -ber 28. These drum members are shown with parts omitted in Figure 1, and one is shown in section in Figure 2. At each end of each drum member is a spider i9 (omitted in Figure 3). From the spiders fle at the front and rear of the machine project stub shafts 5t and 5I. These stub shafts are journaled in bearing bosses 52 which may be provided with any kind of ball or roller bearing and are mounted on the respective .brackets i and Il so that the drums are parallel with each other and are inclined upwardly from iront to rear as clearly illustrated in Figure The stub shafts 5I are arranged to be rotated by suitable driving mechanisms 53.

Since the driving mechanism itself forms no part ,oi my present invention, I have not purported to fully illustrate it. Any conventional drive can be: used to rotate the drums in opposite directions, as illustrated by the arrows Sill-55 in Figure 3.

E6 shows throw rings to throw water oil hy centrifugal force so the water Will not run down into 'the bearings,

In Figure 9 I have shown a section of one drum for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the resilient ngers may be installed. Each drum i8 is provided with a plurality of holes 5l. The ngers 58 are inserted between the spokes of the spider 28 with a suitable tool and the small ends of the nger are inserted through the holes 5l from the inside, as shown at the left-hand part of Figure 9. The end of a nger projecting through a drum is then grasped for pulling the nger into position, shown at the right-hand end oi Figure 9. The inner end of each linger has a reduced neel; 59 to fit in one of the holes 5l. The birds iii are hung by their feet on shackles 6I supported by chains 62 from a conveyor t3.

Operation In actual operation the birds are carried on the shackles 6I to cause them to travel between the rotating drums of the picker. They enter between the picker drums at the lower ends thereof so that the necks will be cleanly picked and as the birds advance, the picking is com-- pleted before they leave the drums. In aetual practice they tend to rotate slightly with an alternating rotary motion.

If it is desired to tilt the drums toward or from eachother for adjusting them for picking birds of different sizes, this can be done by rotating the adjusting rods 2 I, 2id. For example if the rods 2l, Ela are rotated to raise the leg parts l'l, the frame parts will rock around the axis or the tubes 33.

It will be seen that when the leg members ll' are raised, the outer ends of the frame members 2d and' d@ will be raised, causing the members 25 to which lil and i9 are attached, to rotate slightly around the tubes 33. drums are thereby brought closer together.

Pipes may be perforated and connected with a water supply, to spray water on the birds as they pass between the picker drums.

The relative positions of the drums can also be slightly modified by operating the rod 28 to raise and lower the upper member 39 of the leg member i3.

It is my purpose to cover by my claims any modification in structure or material or arrangement oi parts which may be reasonably included within their scope and the scope of my invention,

I claim as my invention:

l. In a poultry picker, a pair oi inclined substantially parallel drums having resilient fingers, and means for mounting the drums for adjusting them toward and from each other, said mounting means including frame elements have ing common pivots at the front and rear of the picker below the level of the travel of birds be tween the drums for picking, said pivots lying in a plane disposed between and parallel with said drums.

2. In a poultry picker, a pair of inclined sub-- stantially parallel drums having resilient fingers, a :frame structure for mounting the drums ior adjusting them toward and from each other, sa'j frame structure including frame elements ior supporting the respective drums, and supporting legs at the rear and front of the frame structure, said legs having vertical lengthwise adjustment and being mounted for limited tilting, said frame structure being provided with means for pivotally interconnecting the frame elements reapectivelgT at the front and rear of the picker below the ievel of the travel of the birds for picking, and a supporting leg below one oi 'the pivots for supporting the frame structure.

3. In a poultry picker, a pair oi substantially parallel picking drums provided with picking fingers, means for rotatably :mounting the drums in inclined position for relative adjustment toward and from each other, said means including a rigid frame portion for each drum, vertically adjustable legs, each supporting a frame portion at one end of the picker, means for pivotally interconnecting the frame portions at each end of the picker, and a supporting leg below one pivot means.

4. In a poultry picker, a pair of substantially parallel picking drums provided with picking ngers, means for rotatably mounting the drums in inclined position for relative adjustment toward and from each other, said means including a rigid frame portion for each drum, vertically adjustable legs, each supporting a frame portion at one end of the picker, means for pivotally interconnecting the frame portions at each end of the picker, and a supporting leg below one pivot means, the legs at the end of the picker which has no leg below the pivot at that end, being arranged substantially closer to each other than are the adjustable legs at the other end of the picker.

5. In a poultry picker, a pair of substantially parallel picking drums provided with picking ngers, means for rotatably mounting the drums in inclined position for relative adjustment toward and from each other, said means including a rigid frame portion for each drum, vertically adjustable legs, each supporting a frame portion at one end of the picker, means for pivotally interconnecting the frame portions at each end of the picker, a supporting leg below one pivot means, said pivot means each having a tube arranged fore and aft of the picker, channel members on opposite sides of the tube, means for mounting the channel members on the tube to permit limited rotation on the tube, the channel members being respectively xed to a frame portion.

6. In a poultry picker, a pair of substantially parallel, inclined drums, a rigid supporting frame portion for rotatably mounting each drum, spaced pivot means for interconnecting the frame portions at the opposite ends of the picker, a supporting leg for one pivot means, and vertically adjustable legs for supporting the frame portions at locations spaced laterally and outwardly from the pivot means.

7. In a poultry picker, a pair of substantially parallel, inclined drums, means for rotatably supporting the drums, said means being adapted for adjusting the drums toward and from each other and having a rigid frame portion for each drum7 means for pivotally interconnecting the frame portions at each end of the picker, a supporting leg for the pivot means at one end of the picker, and a pair of vertically extensible, slightly tilta ble, supporting legs for each frame portion.

3. In a poultry picker, a frame structure, said frame structure being made up of a pair of rigid frame elements, a picker drum rotatably mounted in each frame element, each picker drum being fixedly mounted with respect to its location in the respective frame element, said frame elements being pivotally interconnected on a longitudinal central axis below the level of said picker drums, and adjusting means carried by each frame element and cooperable with the surface on which the picker is supported, said adjusting means being thereby operable for tilting said frame elements with respect to each other and moving said picker drums toward and away from each other.

9. In a poultry picker, a frame structure, said frame structure being made up of a pair of rigid frame elements, a picker drum rotatably mounted in each frame element, each picker drum being iixedly mounted with respect to its location in the respective frame element, said frame elements being pivotally interconnected on a longitudinal central axis below the level of said picker drums, and means for tilting said frame elements about said axis and thereby moving said picker drums toward and away from each other.

EZRA B. MEAD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,036,959 Burk Aug. 27, 1912 1,217,393 Berg Feb. 27, 1917 1,737,225 Dunner Nov. 26, 1929 1,755,665 Richards Apr. 22, 1930 1,389,228 Swanson Nov. 29, 1932 2,334,714 Knight Nov. 23, 1943 2,422,608 Albright June 17, 1947 

